Fuel briquette



I0 Drawing.

Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE mwauna, wrsoonsm,assrenon r0 UNI-ran coax. AND nocx courm, or mwauxna, wrsconsm rum.nnmuarra v This invention pertains to improvements in fuel briquettes,and has primarily for its A further object is to provide a briquetteconsisting of finely pulverized or powdered semi-bituminous oranthracite coal, held together by a binder of asphalt base oil, and

' lightly coated with a mineral oil, such as an asphalt or paraflin baseoil having an aflinity for the binder material.

With the above and other objects in view, which-will appear as thedescription proceeds,the invention resides in the novel combination andarrangement of elements substantially as hereinafter described. and moreparticularly defined by the appended claims, 1t being understood thatsuch changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed inventionmay be made as come within the scope of the claims.

t the present time, there are several conventional fuel briquettes onthe market made by various processes, but in neral utilizingsemi-bitumlnous or anthraclte coal, molded under excessive pressure tothe desired size and shape and held by various binders.

As a rule, thebinder employed, is of a waterproof material, and inasmuchas the briquettes are thoroughly dried to a very hard consistency, thehandling and deliverin of the same to consumers results in dislodgingsmall particles from the surfaces of the briquettes, causingobjectionable dust. As in handling various kinds of coal, it has beencustomary to sprinkle or spray the briquettes with water during thehandling, to avoid rising dust. However, this has its Application fledOctober as, 1929. Serial in. 402,800.

objections in that the water quickly dries,

and in cold'climatic conditions, the same cannot be used because offreezing.

As set forth in the objects, the present invention aims to overcome theforegoing objections by the provision of a briquette coated with afinely atomized spray of oil, which has'an affinity for the binder andis, therefore, readily absorbed by the surface of the briquette, to holdthe fine particles that might otherwise become dislodged in handling.

One manner in which the present invention may be produced, is asfollows: 1

Either semi-bituminous or anthracite coal, or a mixture of both, may beutilized, and the raw-coal, which is of irregular size, is first putthrough a cylindrical drier to eliminate all moisture. From the drier,the coal is delivered to a crusher where the same is finely pulverizedor powdered to produce a uniform grade. After crushing, the coal goesinto a preliminary mixer into which the binder material is introducedand thoroughly mixed with the coal.

While various kinds of binding material may be employed, it has beenfound that a binder of asphalt base oil is the most effective, due toits waterproof characteristics, and the fact that after the mixture ismolded under high pressure and dried, the finished briquette is ofextremely hard consistency, which will resist excessive pressure and,therefore, is not readily broken. To insure thorough mixing of thebinder and coal, the former is introduced. and maintained at atemperature.

of approximately 210 Fahr. during the mixing operation.

After the mass passes through the preliminary mixer, it is fed-to whatis termed a fluxer,; which commprises a vertical mixer that completesmixing of the binder and coal. From tions to mold the mass intobriquettes of desired and shape.

- tremely li%nt coating of oil, which e In the molding operation, thebriquette is subjected to a pressure of approximately 4000 pounds to theinch, which insures a compact, hard mass in the finished product. After5 leaving the press, the warm briquettes are deposited upon a coolinbelt, which eventually delivers them into suitable hoppers.

Ihe foregoing explanation describes a conventional method of formingfuel briquettes 'and, therefore, constitutes no specific part of thepresent invention, other than in the combination as hereinafter claimed.

Heretofore, briquettes constructed by the foregoing process have merelybeen treated or sprayed with water to cause fine loose parti cles toadhere thereto and prevent dust. It will, however, be appreciated thatbriquettes so constructed are exceedingly hard and compact. Thus, it ispractically impossible for the briquette to absorb any amount ofmoisture. This is further true, due to the fact that the binderemployed, is of a waterproof nature. Therefore, sprayin the briquettewith water merely forms a lig t coatin over the same, which quicklydries in ban the problem of dust is again presented.

The present invention is accomplished by atomizing or spraying thebriquette with a mineral oil, which has a great afiinity for the binderutilized in forming the briquette. Consequently, as the oily vapor orspray comes in contact with the surface of the briling and consin.

ROGH P. BOTSOH.

quette, it is readily absorbed by the binder and results in thebriquette requiring an exectively holds the e particles of coal to thesurface of the briquette.

Here, it will be appreciated that-due to the hardness of the briquette,and the extremely fine spray utilized, a minimum quantity of oil isrequired to produce the desired coating, thus reducing the cost to aminimum. It will also be appreciated that the oil coating so appliedwill not readily evaporate and, therefore, in'the ordinary handling ofbriquettes, the coating will serve to prevent dust, until they areconsumed.

While use of as halt base binder and a mineral oil coating has beendescribed in considerable detail, it is to be understood that othermaterials might be employed, the essential feature of the inventionresiding in the factthat the oil spray providing the coating for thebriquette has an affinity for the binder utilized.

It will also be understood that while one process of making thebriquette has been described in considerable detail, the presentinvention is applicable to briquettes formed by 9 other processes,providing that the materials utilized function in a manner to producethe results described.

I claim: 7 1. A fuel briquette consisting of pulverized 5 coal molded tosize and held by a waterproof

